I only have 1 JVC deck so am not an expert. The V661 would walk all over that deck, but what the KD-85 does have is heavy build quality and vintage feel to it, I'm sure it would be robust as with a service and new belts. I certainly wouldn't mind having one in my cabinet, but have other priorities at the moment (and cabinet space issues). No guarantee on vintage units as they almost always need work no matter what the seller says, and means more than just a belt replacement, other things like mechanism/capstan shaft lubing, reel shaft lubing, reel brake inspection, speed adjustment, and some other stuff that goes over the top of my head like circuit board pot adjustments for bias (which I have never touched, cos I don't know what I'm doing there). Factoring all this in, buy it if you really want it, great looking deck.